SHE'S GOT THE LOOK

Being a woman of a certain age, I was very excited to see this new reality show premiere. If you take AMERICA'S NEXT TOP MODEL and take out the obscenely skinny girls, add 20 years to their ages and add the older version of Tyra Banks, Beverly Johnson, you have SHE'S GOT THE LOOK.

Here's the premise, 10 women 35-years-old, and older!, compete in a modeling competition. The big prize is a contract with the Wilhelmina modeling agency. Oh baby, how far we've come, and it's about time. The goal here is to get a woman that is relatable to all of us, not one that makes the rest of us feel like the withering rotton tomotoe barely hanging on the vine. While all of that should be enough to make you want to watch, there is so much more.

The thing that strikes me is the fact that even at 35 and older, girls will be girls. There have been a few jealous temper tantrums, just look back at the episode where Paula lost it after her group lost that week's challenge and you'll know what i'm talking about. That being said, they are older and more mature, so the cattiness hasn't gone too far, at least not yet.

In probably one of the saddest moments, one of the forrunners, Kathy, chose to bow out of the competition to go home to her kids, who she was missing too much to stay away from. But, that isn't the sad part...the sad part was the fact that her teenage sons told her they were having a great time and were getting along fine without her! I suppose my mother wasn't the only woman to give up her dreams for her children, even if they didn't ask her to.

The bottom line is that SHE'S GOT THE LOOK is well-worth tuning into, even if you are one of the skinny young things that usually keeps their channels glued to the CW.

AMERICAN IDOL

AMERICAN IDOL used to be one of my favorite shows. I say used to be not because I don't still watch it every week and look forward to seeing how my favorite singers are doing, but rather, because it has almost become a characeture of its former self. On top of that the show seems to be taking itself much to seriously. Take for example, the new format they have on elimination night where they invite fans to email questions, which they than allow them to ask the contestants themselves via the phone. This type of thing is nothing more than filler for an episode that should really only last about 15 minutes. I don't mind the packages they do each week where they try and get the audience to believe the contestants are responding naturally to pre-planned questions, but this question and answer session is honestly pandering to the lowest common denominator of the fan based.

Apparently I'm not the only person who feels this way because I just heard that the ratings are slipping for the first time since the show aired, and the producers are considering a change to the format. That being said, the changes I'm hearing about will only serve to push even more fans away. One of the ideas on the table is to get rid of the audition episodes, which is the only part a lot of my friends even watch. However, they are also giving their audience questionnaires asking them if they think there is too much bantering among the judges and if they want to see more of host, Ryan Seacrest, or less. If anybody watched last night's episode I'd say this is a no-brainer.


In what can be considered just the latest in a long line of bazar outbursts by judge, Paula Abdul, the audience was left to wonder, yet again, what the heck she brings to the table, other than awkward moments that are discussed ad nauseum by late night TV and morning talk shows. Last night was the first episode that the contestants sang two songs each, and the judges were supposed to give their critiques after the second round, however, once the first round was over, the contestants were lined up so that the judges could give a quick synopsis of how they felt they did and what they needed to do to improve their second song. Paula either got to see something the rest of us didn't, or she exposed the fact that her comments are written for her because she proceeded to critique one contestants on both songs. Now remember, none of the contestants had even sung their second song yet.

While this type of gaffaw is a form of perverse entertainment to some people, I found it very uncomfortable to watch. Even still, I am already emotionally invested so I most definitly will continue to watch, but if David Cook doesn't win the whole thing, I may just get as crazy as Paula seems to be.

MEDIUM

If you are anything like me, you love watching any show that deals with the supernatural. While MEDIUM isn't the best acted show, nor does it appear to be very realistic, even though it is based on a real-life person, it still contains some of the main ingredients necessary for any good ghost story. Each week suburban housewife and mother, Allison Dubois, embarks on a journey to find a killer, based on whatever nagging nightmares are plaquing her at the time. But, Allison isn't the only member of the family pocessed with the gift to foretell the future. During the end of last season, we saw her two oldest daughters dabbling in the afterlife as well.

Here's the premise; Allison, who was interning at the DA's office while attending law school, gave her boss a little extra help by giving him the inside information she got from her dreams. But Allison doesn't just get messages sent to her by the dearly departed while asleep, sometimes they actually appear to her during her waking hours as well. So what we get is a partnership between the dead, the medium and law enforcement to catch the killer of the week. With all the cards stacked in their favor, you have to wonder how some of the bad guys get away. Actually, on this show they rarely do, but it's how it all works out that makes the show.

The one thing that bothers me about this show is the fact that even though Allison is proven right time after time, the people she works with still have to question her about every peice of information she gives them. I suppose there wouldn't be much of a show without that conflict though, so I'm willing to deal with it. While MEDIUM is no SIXTH SENSE, it does feed my need to know even just a little bit about the afterlife, so if you are anything like me, this show is a must see

HELL'S KITCHEN

If you love Reality TV, do any cooking or enjoy watching people being called out for ridiculous behavior, HELL'S KITCHEN is for you. World-renowned chef, Gordon Ramsey, is known for his high-class, innovative and sophisticated cooking, but the only people who were aware of that before his highly rated Reality show premiered were those in the know when it comes to all things food. HELL'S KITCHEN is what the title implies, sheer hell in the kitchen for any chef, or aspiring chef, who thinks they can take on the curmudgeonly perfectionist. Personally, I don't know why any of these people put themselves through this type of torture, but I have to say I certainly appreciate it because it provides me with so much entertainment.

The premise of this show is much the same as TOP CHEF. Each week these cheftestants are given a cooking challenge that sees the winners winning prizes like yacht rides and helicopter flights with the esteemed Chef Ramsey. After all the happiness and light of the win wears off, they must go back to Hell's Kitchen to prepare that evening's menu for the guests who come to the restaurant. The contestants are split into two teams, and each week Gordon chooses the team that did the worst job with the night's service and somebody from that team is kicked out of the competition. There is, however, two main differences between HELL'S KITCHEN and TOP CHEF.


First of all, the contestants on TOP CHEF are much more seasoned and trained in the art of cooking, as most of them are already working professional chefs, whereas, on HELL'S KITCHEN they run the gamut from chefs who are just starting out, to the housewife who fancies herself the next Rachel Ray. But, the biggest difference between the two shows is the main attraction, Chef Ramsey, himself. This man thinks nothing of calling his contestants piles of sh-- while crying fu-- me, when they haven't performed to the level he requires. While I would never subject myself to this kind of treatment, I love watching it all unfold with strangers involved. You may find me a horrible person for this, but I must not be in the minority because HELL'S KITCHEN is back for it's fifth season. So, before you judge me, see for yourself and I bet you will become one of HELL'S KITCHEN'S secret admireres!

HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER

I was just looking back on some of my earlier posts, and realized all but one are good reviews. Well, this one is no exception! HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER was a surprise to me. In fact, I was so sure it would suck that I didn't even watch it until the middle of the first season when all my other shows were repeats. To my surprise, I fell in love with a show that appeared to be a cheap knockoff of one of my all time favorites, FRIENDS. Ok, so it is a bit of a knockoff, but what sets this show apart is the character Barney, played by Neil Patrick Harris. Barney is the type of friend you're embarrassed to be seen in public with, but couldn't do without. Narcissistic, greedy and obtuse are just a few of his personality traits, but he displays them all with some of the funniest lines I've ever heard.


Barney is my favorite character but his group of friends aren't too shabby either. The show centers around the character, Ted, who starts each episode by telling his children another story about when he was younger. So, what we end up seeing is in essence a flashback of his experiences before he met their mother. Ted lives with his best friends, Marshall and Lilly, who have just gotten married. Than there is their newest friend, Robin, who the audience was led to believe was the mother in HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER. Of course it couldn't have been her becuase they met on the first episode and that would have ended the whole show. That leads me to how I believe the series will ultimately end.

In my version of the series finally, Ted and the woman he ultimately marries see each other across a crowded room, lock eyes and the picture fades to black. HOW I MET YOUR MOTHER is only in its second season, so hopefully that episode won't air for another few years because I am thorougly enjoying the ride. An extra added bonus would be if Barney falls madly in love with the same woman and forsakes his own happiness for his best friend's. Until than, we will all get to watch Ted go through all the painful experiences that are inevitable before you find "the one."

DANCING WITH THE STARS

I promise you that when this show first came out, I was the last person I thought would become a fan. In fact, I refused to watch the first season at all. I thought it was the cheesiest idea I had ever heard of for a show. Cut to three years later, and you can't find a bigger fan. Actually, It makes more sense that I am a fan than it did when I wasn't, because I grew up taking dance class my whole life. But come on, a show where B list, or lower, celebrities learn how to dance, and ballroom dancing at that, that's an even dumber idea on paper than the SURREAL LIFE. Well color me wrong, because DANCING WITH THE STARS has turned out to be one of my favorite guilty pleasures.

First of all, the dancing is amazing, and the professionals can kick any sports star's butt. But don't worry, because if you are one of those people who don't enjoy watching people gallop around the stage, there is plenty for you as well. First of all you have gorgeous men and women dressed in skimpy clothes, I mean where else can you get that on a show that can still call itself family friendly. While many of the celebrities are decent to excellent dancers, there are plenty who don't seem to know their left feet from their right. Those rythmically challenged contestants actually provide some of the best stuff to the show. Anybody who has been watching for a while knows what I mean, if they had a chance to catch Master P in action. You would think that would be enough, but hold on to your hats because DANCING WITH THE STARS is lousy with drama as well.

Come on, you can't put that many good looking people together gyrating to sexy music without some rumors floating around, and float they do. The first season's winner, Kelly Monaco, was rumored to be having a fling with her hot Russian partner, but that turned out to be just that, a rumor, because he is now married the another hot Russian female dancer who is also on the show. In fact, romance rumors abound on this show, but there is also plenty of controversy. Take for example Marie Osmond fainting last season during her grilling from the judges. I tell you, this stuff can't be written, which is what makes true Reality TV so entertaining. And if you like Reality TV, you'll be happy to know that HELL'S KITCHEN comes back on the air this week. Stand by folks, that review will be coming up shortly.

LOST

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LOST is the show I love to hate, or rather, the show I hate to love. While it keeps me on the edge of my seat with its contant surprises, it fails to answer even what seems to be the most inconsequential questions. Yes, it's true that a show that can keep you guessing keeps you coming back for more, but there has to be some payoff for its loyal fans. My fear is that while we are all sitting around waiting for the finale of the show to give us the satisfaction we've all been waiting for, it will turn out to be another X FILES. For any of you have were fans of that venerable show, I don't have to tell you how frustrating it was to watch a finale that left us asking even more questions than when it started. That being said, I can't seem to get myself to stop watching.


So far this season we have found out that six of the castaways make it back to the mainland, and to their credit, the show even told us which six it would be. But as always, those answers only led to more questions. For example; Kate has ended up with custody of baby Aaron, so what happened to his mother? Sun gives birth to a healthy baby girl, but apparently Jin has died. Then there's the mystery of Michael, who we all thought was happily living out his life with his son back on the mainland, only to find out he's in cahoots with his former captor to sabatoge the mysterious vessel that brought the supposed rescueres to the island. I know, if you don't watch the show you are compeletly lost right now, but don't worry because even those of us who have watched from the beginning are baffled. Don't even get me started on what's going on back at the island.

The bottom line is this, if the writers are able to wrap everything up in a nice shiny package, as they have promised, by the time the show reaches its conclusion, than all this frustration will have been worth it. If they don't, I will never trust another Sci-Fi show again, because ultimately that's the genre I would be LOST in. That being said, the format does work, because I eagerly anticipate Thursday night every week.